“I don’t know where he got it from. When the board went up, it lifted every Southampton player and supporter in the ground, and it was unfair

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway

Saints’ magnificent run of 21 straight wins at home came to an abrupt end but it could have been much worse for Nigel Adkins’ side after Bialkowski’s schoolboy error handed Blackpool the lead early in the second period.

But Southampton boss Nigel Adkins, a former keeper, jumped to the Pole’s defence, saying: “I gave him a big hug, because I have been in situations like that myself.

“It will make him a stronger player and a stronger person and we are all here to support him.”

Saints were last beaten at home by Manchester United in the FA Cup Fourth Round last February, and Adkins pointed out: “That’s ten wins and one draw in the league at home this season and that can’t be too bad. Lambert’s late goal was great and we showed the character to keep going.”

“I don’t know where he got it from. When the board went up, it lifted every Southampton player and supporter in the ground, and it was unfair.” Bialkowski was making only his 23rd league appearance in more than five years.

And there was a hint of what might come early on when the stopper fumbled a cross from Matt Phillips and then let a 25-yard effort from Ludovic Sylvestre simply hit him in the chest.